The Multi-site Church Revolution

Surratt, Geoff. Ligon, Greg. Bird, Warren. The Multi-site Church Revolution. Being one church in many locations. Zondervan, 2006.

The concept of a church plant is being replaced by the multi-site option. Although multi-site is certainly not a new concept in recent years more and more churches are opting for this strategy to increase their ministry effectiveness. Our own church (Willow Park Church) has been into this strategy for a few years and we are anticipating beginning our third campus early in the new year. This resource would be helpful for those churches (leaders) that are contemplating the idea and of interest to those churches that are already practicing ‘multi- site’
There are two organizations that are conspicuously absent in this presentation. One is the Bible colleges and seminaries and the other is denominational leadership. They are not considered sources for leadership development and /or organizational guidance.
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“The approach of taking one church to multiple sites seems to be the beginning of a revolution in how church is done in North America and around the world.” (17). A brief overview is given of multi-site churches and how they became multi-site. “The genius of multi-site is not that it grows your church but that it keeps your church growing.” (22).
There are many models of multi-church churches. Five of these are discussed. (Video-venue model, Regional campus model, Teaching team model, Partnership model, Low-risk model.) Most multi-site churches are blends of these models.
Determining how much risk to take is an important part of starting a multi-site church. (When a new site becomes or operates independently it is by definition a church plant.) Three questions are posed which will help a church decide about a multi-site move. They have to do with church health, church vision, and church leadership. Small churches (200 + or -) can begin multi-site. A self-diagnostic tool is presented for churches that want to explore the option of multi-site ministry. A call from God is basic to any consideration for such a plan.
A number of stories are shared about successful multi-site churches. Getting started begins with “selling the dream” (vision). (84). Allow church leaders the experience of observing how it works. Know what you are talking about. There seems to be historical evidence of multi-site churches from the beginning of church history. Consider the cost of doing multi-site.
Similarities between church plants and multi-site (satellite) are discussed. It is important to identify not only the site for the satellite but also the leaders. Consider all necessary pre-launch elements. The new campus must be marketed. The further away the satellite is from the original campus the more it will look like the original campus. Some good books are listed for further resources. Satellite churches should reflect the DNA of the original church to maintain organizational cohesiveness. This is accomplished through the development of leadership.
Starting the first satellite is more difficult than beginning subsequent sites. A multi-site director is an important staff position for a multi-site church. When campuses become numerous (four or more) central services must be developed, e.g. videoconferences and teleconferences. It is suggested that the founding church train satellite leaders. (“Leadership farm system”). Institution trained leaders don’t seem to be on the radar screen of these writers. Technology skills and management become crucial because they are basic to most multi-site models. Learn from other churches’ mistakes (experience). Ten “detours to avoid” (174) are presented. Don’t stop learning.
The last section of the book deals with the challenge of becoming a “movement of replicating campuses”. (185). To make services transferable to other (sometimes distant) campuses attention must be given to “content, style and context”. (187). As sites multiply leadership development becomes more crucial. Financial management and quality control become more challenging, “The possibilities for spreading the gospel and impacting communities through multi-site ministry are endless.” (198).